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Arrest made over Saddam hanging video »
Posted by: Karina 1 year, 9 months agoThe person believed to have recorded Saddam Hussein's execution on a cell phone camera was arrested Wednesday, an adviser to Iraq's prime minister said.
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Karina
Karina Longworth blogs about film at Spout.com. She co-founded the film blog Cinematical in March 2005, whilst simultaneously completing an MA in Cinema Studies ...
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Comments: 88
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lofta
Jan. 3, 2007, 10:06 a.m.The video was really hard to see and I think the reason the guy got in trouble because it blow Saddam's cover to fake his hanging but now the USA wants to MORE PROOF!!! The video was not good at all..
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evelyna
Jan. 3, 2007, 10:06 a.m.The new democracy is arresting someone for taking a cell phone video.
The new democracy sounds a lot like censorship. They are not irritated because of the way it was performed only that someone took a video.
The man needed the money obviously.
He should only be arrested because of the quality not because of quantity. I think he could have done a lot better.
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glaswolf
Jan. 3, 2007, 3:14 p.m.The problem is American soldiers were supposed to have searched everyone to ensure no cell phones or other filming capabilities were taken secretly into the hanging chamber. How could the cell phones have entered without American military police cooperation, assuming the mp's were doing the searching? The American Army has a problem of discipline and ability or both. At least a few soldiers, noncoms and officers wearing American uniforms should be arrested over this fiasco. You like quality as opposed to quantity. Saying the one should have done better is like saying the American soldiers assigned the task of ensuring no cell phones should have ensured the quality of the cell phones. As a nation, we can only be trusted to the extent that our military is trustworthy. Lapses in discipline are not tolerable in these situations. Next time we handle someone of such positioning, we should use only military officers and no enlisted men. Our volunteer army has just volunteered too much damage.
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jaern
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:36 p.m.What do you expect? We have an administration here in the US trying to shred the constitution. Why would we have created a "democracy" with freedom of speech or a free press?
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evelyna
Jan. 3, 2007, 10:08 a.m.Fake his hanging? Where is he now? Do you think they may have used a look alike. Not that hard to find an unshaven,disheveled in Iraq.
Maybe if Iraq had some electricity they could have had better lighting at least.
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vor
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:05 a.m.This makes no sense at all. These were Shias that executed Saddam. They had every reason to want to see him dead. Al-Maliki may be a patsy but he has not forgotten his own abuse at the hands of Saddam.
He is dead. Let's not make an Elvis figure out of him.
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runforest
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:07 p.m.the second video is useless. all you see is the rope put around his neck, which is the same as the pictures that where releast. so the other person wont be arrested. and the second video, is of much better quality then the camera phone. the camera phone wasnt supposed to be there, the other guy obviously was allowed.
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better-make-friends-with-americans
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:03 a.m.You guys need to get your facts straight before you go making fools of yourselves.
The hanging was officially video taped for documentaion and proof. All other video was resticted.
This an an execution. It is a solumn occassion. Not to be thown around for all of you voyersitic fools on youtube. A man was put to death.
The guy who videoed with his cell phone, and all of the guards who taunted Sadaam should be arrested and punished-or at least fired for inappropriate behavior.
This was the perfect time for Iraq to show the world some decency and that they can be a respected democracy...too bad they screwed it up.
How about we as Americans show a little respect for a man put to death (rightfully so in my opinion) and stop winning that we didn't get to see a man killed.
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DanmLiberals
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:33 a.m.You mean a raging lunatic monster was put to death. I feel more sorrow over a death of an ant than I do for Saddam. He got LESS than what he deserved and was lucky to take the easy way out.
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better-make-friends-with-americans
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:49 p.m.I dont listen or read pot smokers comments.....
Yeah he got what he deserved, As I commented below:
"They guy deserved what he got. I could care less if he had been caught during the war, stripped naked, dragged through the streets and then publicly beaten and hanged by an angry mob."
I just think that a government run execution should be run more dignified.
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jordan11
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:55 p.m.This an an execution. It is a solumn occassion. Not to be thown around for all of you voyersitic fools on youtube. A man was put to death.>>>>
Exactly.
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ArseholeMarsole
Jan. 3, 2007, 9:31 p.m.Why should we show respect for a man that killed hundreds of thousands of his own people? And by the way it was Iraqis that killed him and not Americans so mind your own business. I am sick and tired of you neredowells Americanizing something that is not American. Iraqis killed an Iraqi and if they want to taunt, embarass this murderer than so be it. What has this got to do with you? Get a life and worry about indecency like in the Darfur region where genocide is taking place and leave Iraqis do do what they want.
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pattif
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:05 a.m.I for one do not think the hanging was a fake in any way. Personally, I think it should have been out there for ALL the world to see. I don't think the punishment was cruel enough compared to the vile acts he has committed upon many people and destroyed countless families.
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demonchck04
Jan. 3, 2007, 4:05 p.m.I agree. I would have loved to see that monster hung. He deserved to be killed and I think that it should have been for the world to see. He sure didn't hesitate to humiliate and or murder in public eye. Why not do to him what he did to his victims?
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Dascoop
Jan. 4, 2007, 9:34 p.m.I have seen pictures on television of people hanging from trees in the south and burned to death. Those picture were not too graphic for television.
Good comment
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gayub
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:22 a.m.There are multiple problems with this. First, there are free speech issues. I know free speech is not absolute, but he can be fined, not jailed. Second: How was it ok for the Shia guards to chant Shia Slogans, but not ok for the other guard to expose this to the world? Are those guards working for all the people of Iraq or are they just working for the SHIAS? Iraq seems to have turned into another SHIA regime.
I know Saddam was an evil dictator, but those guards made it look like a SHIA execution of a SUNNI.
How did we (Americans) benefit from creating a second IRAN? Last time I checked, IRAN was part of President Bush's axis of Evil. So, tell me how creating another SHIA regime is good for America?
I think we should forget about democracy in IRAQ and put together an AMERICAN run secular, non sectarian administration. We need to run IRAQI Government atleast for next 50 years. I don't think people in the middle east are civilized enough to exercise democracy.
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Coatl
Jan. 3, 2007, 3:26 p.m.Well thanks for finnaly expose the US global policy, "If someone doesn't live like we want, we should make them live as we want it." So why stop in middle east? You should try to run the entire planet that's what you've always wanted. That ideology sucks. The US goverment should stop pretending to know what is best for the entire world. If you keep forcing other countries into your way, your empire will fall soon. You should begin to fix your internal problems before you go and try to "help" other people. I've seen the way you help, believe me, we're better by our own.
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ekklesiawarrior
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:38 a.m.from article:
-"The person who filmed the execution process has been arrested. ... Now he is under interrogation about the goals of his filming," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. "He was arrested by Iraqi forces."
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Disambiguation
Jan. 3, 2007, 11:59 a.m.I agree with all those who say that the guy was wrong in filming the execution. Even though Saddam was an evil man when he was alive and killed hundreds during his regime, don't you think he still deserves some decency and respect in his final moments? Well, if you don't, I do. Granted, this is coming from a Christian who believes that using capital punishment is wrong in the first place...
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alexrudloff
Jan. 3, 2007, 1:50 p.m.Some estimates upwards of 1 million, conservative estimates of hundreds of thousands.
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demonchck04
Jan. 3, 2007, 4:10 p.m.Saddam didn't show respect and decency to those he killed so why should he be shown respect and decency when he was killed?
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Razor
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:27 p.m.don't you think he still deserves some decency and respect in his final moments?
Did he afford decency and respect to the multitude of Shei and Kurd victims he ordered burried alive in a mass grave... I say show the whole uncut, official video for all the world to see what happens to monsters like him.
Well, form one Christian to another, You better go read the Bible again, quit letting someone else do your thinking for you.... Capital punishment is present in the passages. Jesus did not come to do away with the law, but, to fullfil the law. God places those in positions of power and judgment whom he wishes. When you think about it, Ol'Sadam's not gone, he's just apealing to a highr court....as we all will do one day, just some are covered by grace and some are not.....
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Razor
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:33 p.m.don't you think he still deserves some decency and respect in his final moments?
Did he afford decency and respect to the multitude of Shei and Kurd victims he ordered burried alive in a mass grave... I say show the whole uncut, official video for all the world to see what happens to monsters like him.
US taxpayers alone paid about $2000 to see this jerk swing, give the real tape to Larry King!
Well, form one Christian to another, You better go read the Bible again, quit letting someone else do your thinking for you.... Capital punishment is present in the passages. Jesus did not come to do away with the law, but, to fullfil the law. God places those in positions of power and judgment whom he wishes. When you think about it, Ol'Sadam's not gone, he's just apealing to a highr court....as we all will do one day, just some are covered by grace and some are not.....
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Razor
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:36 p.m.don't you think he still deserves some decency and respect in his final moments?
Did he afford decency and respect to the multitude of Shei and Kurd victims he ordered burried alive in a mass grave...? NOT!!! I say show the whole uncut, official video for all the world to see what happens to monsters like him.
US taxpayers each alone paid about $2000 to see this jerk swing, give the real tape to Larry King!
Well, form one Christian to another, You better go read the Bible again, quit letting someone else do your thinking for you.... Capital punishment is present in the passages. Jesus did not come to do away with the law, but, to fullfil the law. God places those in positions of power and judgment whom he wishes. When you think about it, Ol'Sadam's not gone, he's just apealing to a highr court....as we all will do one day, just some are covered by grace and some are not.....
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better-make-friends-with-americans
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:45 p.m.Look,
They guy deserved what he got. I could care less if he had been caught during the war, stripped naked, dragged through the streets and then publicly beaten and hanged by an angry mob.
But I personally think that a government run execution should remain more dignified.
Having said that, I wish he had gotten the angry mob treatment.
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WYSIWYGReality
Jan. 3, 2007, 2:40 p.m.I wont discuss your comments BMFWA but I got a couple of questions. Was Saddam the only criminal tyrant in the world? If no, why are the others (past and present) running free? Some on US soil by the way.
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JohnChasWebb
Jan. 3, 2007, 12:55 p.m.The real problem with the video is that it will leave Saddam 'hanging' in millions of people's minds for years to come.
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WYSIWYGReality
Jan. 3, 2007, 3:21 p.m.Correction ... The previous and next mass murderers will know not to stop "cooperating" with the US government. The actual and potential "friends" of the US government know what to expect from us.
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JDollar555
Jan. 3, 2007, 4:20 p.m.how is that a problem? I swear this country is just full of little cry babies! pretty soon the terorists can just walk in and we will hand them the US as long as they "PROMISE" to be nice!
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better-make-friends-with-americans
Jan. 3, 2007, 1:02 p.m.I dont find that a problem. And I don't find the Nick Berg video in my mind a problem, it reminds me who we are dealing with.
I just found the taunting distasteful, the guy was going to die in 1 minute, so why bother. And believe me it wasn't bothering Saddam, I'm sure he was more concerned about that long drop with a short rope.
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jamespond007
Jan. 3, 2007, 1:19 p.m.Blody hell this is another planet that we even don't understand
the world has always had evil
some people have always been evil
don't try to understand it's just like that
europe has had hitler,inquisition etc all in the name of god?who is this guy?
america has had it's daily hangings since it's beginning 200 years ago(lookes like yesterday)
just on a tree without any trial,a rope over a branch and let's do it
LET's STOP being hyppocrits & let the irakis resolve there problems
there is worse to come from Iran and god? again him ?knows who else?
Happy 2007
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100ResolutionsNoSolutions
Jan. 3, 2007, 1:25 p.m.Honestly, why make a big deal out of it. All you are doing is blowing it more out of proportion than it already is. There will always be really twisted people out there who want to view the deaths of others whether it be a famous figure or just an average person, and there really isn't much anyone can do about it. So really this is nothing to be shocked about at all that a death video has been all the rage.
As a personal side note, I blame 99% of everything that is wrong on religion, including this entire ordeal (including Saddam himself). But then again if religion has been nothing but a control over people, how exactly can anyone say what is right or wrong now with out having it been based off of thier own personal beliefs learned or modified from cultural teachings and religion. So i personally believe that Saddam was very wrong for killing everyone, but if i believe taking life to be wrong then how can i support his execution at all?
...to be continued
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big-cat-stewie
Jan. 3, 2007, 1:40 p.m.I am all for humane euthanasia. I am sure everyone would agree that if an out of control animal was running the streets mauling children and other animals then it isn't right in the head and should be euthanized. The same should apply to people who are out of control and harming other people. They are not right in the head and should be put down. Should it be publicly displayed? Absolutely not. Some people were able to have closure by seeing an animal put down that harmed or destroyed their family, while others got pure satisfaction from it for whatever sick reason. The video should not have been made public.
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Flanders121
Jan. 3, 2007, 3:22 p.m.wat a terrible video, who took it they out to be hanged for such a shamefull video, is the education so bad over there they cant even work a camera, im waiting for it with sumbtitles then it wil make up for teh fact that u wotch teh floor the entire time
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joeblowe
Jan. 3, 2007, 4:19 p.m.Arrested on what charge, exactly? Is their system set up to be so different from ours? Aren't the courts operated in an "open and notorius" fashion? Should executions of this sort not be public? Why NOT video tape it unless there was something going on that someone did NOT want videotaped? Is it really cruel or unusual to video a convicted murderer's last minutes? Even in our system where it takes YEARS to accomplish an execution, no matter how heinous the crime, the press and several other members of the public are allowed to view the execution. At least if there is a video from start to finish everyone can be fairly well satisfied of what actually happened. [Sit down you conspiracy nuts! As previously mentioned, no one in that room wanted Saddam to stay alive.] Ah, for the good old days when the hangings were done in the public square... now THAT was a deterent!
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BigIan
Jan. 3, 2007, 4:20 p.m.fao Damnliberals
And if the 'raging lunatic monsters' allegedly responsible for the massacre of innocent women and children in Haditha are found guilty should they be put to death too?
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Origin
Jan. 3, 2007, 4:56 p.m.the execution of saddam was a foolish thing to do.
1. the US is still in iraq so regardless of what anyone says, his execution on our watch is bad form and a potential lynch pin for would-be US haters.. wasnt the gallows made by US soldiers? DUH!
2. Since we supplied saddam with the chemical weapons that he used on the kurds, we should have launched an extensive investigation into how and why that happened..
i mean, come on, i have seen the photos of a smiling donald rumsfeld shaking hands with saddam as the chemical weapons were delivered so he could use them on iranians with our approval floors me. this is the kicker..dumbsfeld, 20 years later cried outrage that he used them on his own people as a cause for deposing him.. we created that situation.. Isn't there a moral catch 22 with a free, democrat society providing a dictator chemical weapons ? sounds very hypocritical and illegal if you ask me.
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joeblowe
Jan. 3, 2007, 5:33 p.m.Things change, opinions evolve. At one point, it was considered perfectly OK to kill American Indians; men, women and children -- no problem. Now, everyone is ashamed of having ancestors who had done that and goes to their casinos to make them wealthy. It may very well be that if you showed that photo to Rummy today, he would shuffle his feet, go "aw shucks, at the time we thought that was a good idea", then offer an apology for being so stupid. Wouldn't be the first time (nor, I expect, the last) that the U.S. got into bed with some knucklehead in the evening, only to discover in the light of day that they had just got a bad case of cooties, syphilis, the clap, and bed bugs.
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yinyangshiningstar
Jan. 3, 2007, 9:16 p.m.i heard that was part of the reason they convicted him of only 143 murders, because many were killed by weapons and means that were inadvertantly(?) provided by us and other nations. if they had to go through the trial process with evidence from the MANY other killings done on his watch the u.s. government could definitely be implicated somehow.
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LoveU2
Jan. 3, 2007, 5:40 p.m.After seen the footage of Saddam's murder, its difficult to tell any more lies how he died, a man with courage and no fear. I wonder, how many of those that would like to have "cast the first stone", would stand-up fearlessly under the same situation? No wonder the video is controversial.
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militarywife06
Jan. 3, 2007, 5:50 p.m.Who cares who taped it! As long as the bastard is dead, seriously, who cares!
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